The Samson Chivatsi African

Children’s Appeal was established

in 1998 by Maureen and Ian

McIntyre, after visiting a school

whilst on holiday in Kenya. They

were so affected by the poverty, poor

health and lack of facilities at the

school that, on returning to Scotland,

Maureen set up the charity and

sponsorship programme to give the

poorest children access to a good

education in the area of Utange, near

Mombasa. The charity was named

after the first child that Maureen and

Ian sponsored.

Utange was an area of Kenya ravaged by poverty, aids and tribal conflict where children live in mud huts which are often washed away during the rainy season. Some families rent “a room” which is often over crowded with poor facilities. By setting up the charity, Maureen has developed a deep connection with the needs of these people and has developed the project in a way that has enhanced the lives of the children in the school as well as the whole community, bringing them together by providing skills, hope and opportunities to adults and children. The school employs over 40 local people which has helped the community; it was noticeable this year when violence and unrest affected so many areas in Kenya that Utange remained peaceful.

The charity is now educating over 750 children and has plans to expand

when the money becomes available . To date the charity has converted a

building into a kindergarten, built a primary school with a computer room

and will complete the second phase of the secondary school this year.

The charity has installed electricity, drilled two bore holes for fresh water

and introduced a school feeding programme. The school is also used for

adult education projects in the evening. Following the success of the last

two singing children tours we have built and furnished a much needed

orphanage . In addition the charity has recently acquired some traditional African houses next to the orphanage which will be converted to workshops for making jewelry and other local crafts, providing jobs and skills training for young people in the village. The charity is run by Maureen and her daughter Yvonne with the help of enthusiastic fundraisers and sponsors. No money is spent on offices or salaries as the charity is run entirely by volunteers. All your generously donated money goes to where it is needed most.

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